Dispensers for synthetic detergents



1366- 1961 D. E. ROE 3,012,657

DISPENSERS FOR SYNTHETIC DETERGENTS Filed May 25. 1960 INVENTOR DAVI D E. ROE

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3,012,657 iatented Dec. 12, 1961 3 012 657 DISPENSERS FOR SE 'NTHETIC DETERGEN'Ii David Edwin Roe, Mitcharn, England, assignor to Surface Active Products (Overseas) Limited, London, England, a company Filed May 23, 1960, Ser. No. 31,139 2 Qlairns. (Cl. Edd- This invention relates to dispensers for synthetic detergents, and other materials required to be added to liquids, and has for its object to provide a dispenser which enables the detergent material to be added to, and rapidly mixed with, water, the dispenser being cheap to manufacture and simple to use.

According to the present invention, in a dispenser for detergent, disinfectant and like materials including an apertured casing enclosing a body of said material in solid form, the casing consists of an elongated tube of mesh construction having its ends deformed inwardly to retain the solid detergent material therein, the said material being in the form of a rod.

The mesh is preferably formed of oppositely wound helical filaments or strands, and the said filaments or strands may be formed of thermoplastic material produced by extrusion, the filaments or strands wound in one direction forming an inner layer and the filaments or strands wound in the other direction forming an outer layer, the filaments or strands of the two layers adhering one to the other at the intersections between them.

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of one form of dispenser according to the invention, part of the casing being broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the dispenser shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, the dispenser comprises an elongated tube of cylindrical shape, which, in the example shown, is about ten inches long and a little over an inch in diameter, the tube being of mesh formation and consisting of inner and outer layer of strands or filaments of thermoplastic material wound helically in opposite directions and adherent one to the other at their intersections. may be varied, and may be as small as 4:1.

The tube 10 is formed by an extrusion process.

The tube 10 is initially formed with a uniform diameter and, after a rod of solid detergent material 11 has been inserted therein, the ends are softened by heating and deformed inwardly to a substantially hemi-spherical shape as shown at 12, an opening 13, FIGURE 3, being preferably left in the centre of each end.

A wire suspension loop 14 having inturned ends which are passed through openings in the mesh of the tube 10 is provided at one end of the said tube, to enable it to be suspended in a vertical position.

The tube may be formed of a metal wire mesh instead of being formed of a thermoplastic material, the ends being permanently deformed inwardly after the rod of detergent material has been inserted.

The use of a casing tube of mesh material provides openings which constitute a large proportion of the area of the surface of the said tube, and therefore permits free entry and escape of water.

In use, the dispenser is held in the hand at one end, the other end being dipped into water in which the detergent material is to be dissolved.

The ratio of the length to the diameter The dispenser is then moved to-and-fro or round and round to cause water to flow through it, the water dissolving some of the detergent material.

The water being agitated by the movement of the dispenser, the dissolved material is mixed thoroughly with the water, so that the quantity of detergent material dissolved is readily indicated by the degree of foaming which occurs, and the dispenser can be withdrawn as soon as the quantity dissolved is sufficient.

The dispenser can then be suspended by means of the loop 14, to allow any remaining Water to drain away, thus avoiding waste of detergent material due to solution in water remaining in the dispenser.

The dispenser is thus very useful for adding detergent material to water for washing crockery, glassware, cutlery, and the like, for preparing water for Washing floors, windows and walls, and for preparing a detergent solution for the washing of silks, woolens and other delicate fabrics.

It will be understood that, although the invention has been described with reference to a dispenser for detergent materials, it is also suitable for use with other materials, such as disinfectants which are required to be dissolved in water or other liquids, especially for household purposes.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a disposable detergent dispenser comprising, in combination, an enclosing container and a supply of detergent within the container such that a desired quantity of the detergent may be rapidly and easily dissolved in a body of water and wherein the article is capable of repeated reuse until the supply of detergent is exhausted; said container being in the form of a lightweight, rigid, elongated, cylindrical tube adapted to be grasped in the hand and being of considerable length so that a substantial portion will protrude beyond the hand, said tube further being of substantially uniform dimensions throughout its length except for the opposite end portions thereof and having substantially uniform wall thickness throughout, an elongate stick of solid detergent disposed within said tube and substantially filling the same in the as-manufactured condition, said opposite end portions of the tube being deformed inwardly to form retaining ends for the solid detergent, said container being adapted to be grasped by hand and immersed Without wetting of the hand for dissolution of a desired amount of said detergent, a bail fixed to said tube at the upper end thereof so as to enable the article to be hung in vertical position for draining, said tube being formed of a plurality of spaced strands crossing to present a screenlike wall having a multitude of apertures, each of relatively large dimensions and collectively of large area as compared with the total surface of the tube, whereby immersion of the article in a body" of water will permit the detergent to immediately and rapidly pass into solution therewith.

2. The article as defined in claim 1 wherein said tube is formed of a hardened thermoplastic material, said end portions being deformed after the insertion of the detergent supply into such tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS v Cantwell Feb. 18, 

